In addition to sexy decor and the requisite high-tech, high-profile games that are ubiquitous in modern casinos, a casino also offers shows, restaurants and other amenities. These features help draw visitors from all over the world to gamble, and they generate some of the billions of dollars in profits that casinos rake in every year. But the foundation of a casino is still largely gambling and games of chance like slot machines, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps and keno.

The first casinos sprang up in Nevada, where gambling was legalized for the first time. The idea quickly spread as other states followed suit, forming a network of gambling centers across the country. But there are some important things that should be understood before patrons venture into a casino.

First and foremost, there is no such thing as a guaranteed win at a casino game. All games have built-in advantages that guarantee the house a certain amount of gross profit (often called the “house edge”). In other words, even the most skillful and savvy players will eventually lose money in the long run.

That’s why casinos are so security-conscious. The rules of most table games follow predictable patterns, so security personnel can easily detect deviations from the norm. Cameras in the ceiling give a high-tech, eye-in-the-sky view of all tables, windows and doorways. Even if a patron cheats or breaks the rules of a game, security is often able to catch them thanks to these high-tech surveillance systems.